Dramatic YMCA Turnaround Draws Kudos from Business Chamber of Commerce

Creative Marketing, Community Contributor

Giving extraordinary recognition to a non-profit organization, the Chamber of Commerce for Northbrook, Illinois has selected the North Suburban YMCA as its Small Business of the Year. The award honors the Y for its dramatic turnaround, coming back from near bankruptcy in 2006 to become a revitalized center by creating a competitive edge to fuel its success; experiencing considerable growth, and demonstrating exceptional customer service. The award will be formally presented by Chamber President Tensley Garris at the Chamber’s annual dinner on February 27.

The Chamber award reflects the Y’s success in regaining its prominence as a thriving community center, complete with a renovated facility and a quickly expanding membership base. In 2006, the Y was on the verge of closing its doors due to crippling debt, plummeting membership, deteriorating infrastructure and the potential revocation of its charter from YMCA of the USA. A “Save the Y” campaign, launched by Executive Director/CEO Howard Schultz and the Y’s Board of Directors, built on the Y’s deep roots in the community and then reached out to new potential partners and supporters. Momentum built quickly and steadily, enabling the Y to completely discharge its $2.3 million of debt by March 2008 and reassure the Y USA of its viability. A capital campaign followed, raising a total of $5.8 million to date, which provided the funds to remake the facility into an attractive, welcoming location and to replace much of its aging mechanical systems. Other improvements targeted the Y’s facilities that emphasized core programs in youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, including renovation of multi-purpose community rooms.

Six years later after pulling back from the brink, the Y is enjoying a surge in membership. Through January 2013, membership has grown over 38% since 2009, including a 19% leap since the completion of major renovations in September alone. The Y now boasts over 2400 member households. At the same time, the Y maintains a commitment to keeping its services available to all, by providing financial assistance to families enable participation in membership, child care, day camp, and other programs important to their family needs, through its Strong Kids Financial Assistance Fund. Approximately one out of five participant members, approximately 2000 people, receive some level of assistance, with roughly $490,000 in aid being distributed in 2012 alone. The Y’s annual Ken & Alta Thiel Strong Kids Dinner has been the primary source of the over $1.8 million raised for financial assistance since 2006.

“What happened with the Y these last few years is nothing short of miraculous,” comments Ron Bernardi, who helped found the organization along with his Rotary colleagues in 1968. He credits the Y for maintaining the creed of its Rotary founders – emphasizing the importance of “Service Above Self”. He adds that that the Y turnaround brought the community together, due in part to its customer service philosophy. Bernardi notes, “They are truly committed to serving their customers and the community.”

At an informal award announcement on January 17, Schultz publicly thanked the Chamber and its members for their participation in the Y’s resurgence. “On behalf of all the Y’s members, Board of Directors and staff, I want to thank the Chamber for this outstanding honor. It’s tremendous to know where we came from and to see where we are now,” he told the guests. “Our Y has grown substantially in the past few years because you as a community have supported us. We’re thrilled to be members of the Chamber and to restore the Y as a vital member of the community.”

For more information regarding the North Suburban YMCA, visit www.nsymca.org.